Here we go again.

"Police said one [suspect] had tried to buy weapons from underground dealers who took the youths' money but never produced guns. Another dealer was arrested on a warrant before he could hand over guns, authorities said." Translation: Easy access to weapons of mass destruction (firearms), even by teenagers.

"The fathers of the three suspects attended the hearing [after the suspects were arrested]. Two left without commenting, and a third, swarmed by reporters, made brief comments as he left, saying that his son was 'a good kid' and that the whole matter might be a misunderstanding." (Emphasis mine.) Translation: Parents are in denial about how seriously ill their own children must be to even contemplate doing something like this.

"[A senior student] said everyone at the school was aware of what had happened but that few seemed scared." Translation: People (especially students) have been so desensitized to violence that they don't take a threat like this seriously. Or they are just completely clueless. More likely the latter.

"A pep rally was canceled last Friday; an auction was postponed yesterday. A pre-prom assembly might be canceled next week, [the senior] said…'It's just a setback,' [she] said. 'It's just a waste of our time.' " Translation: See previous translation.

" 'I don't really care, as long as the cops take care of it,' [the same student] said. 'I don't think they were really going to do it, anyway.' " Translation: What more needs to be said? There were threats being made by the Columbine killers months before they slaughtered their classmates, a teacher, and themselves, and nobody listened then, either.

A blog about education by a proud public school teacher.

I'm a public school teacher from southern New Jersey. This is my blog about public education, education policy, politics and education, education news, funny and weird stuff that goes on in classrooms, and whatever else comes to mind.
I will NOT be discussing anything that goes on in my classroom, especially my students, so just relax.